Viral Video Of Nigerian, French Troops Debunked As 2013 Footage

A video claiming to show Nigerian and French troops offloading supplies in a coordinated operation has gone viral on social media, sparking debates about France’s alleged influence in Nigeria.

The video, shared amid rising speculation about France’s intentions, comes on the heels of allegations that Nigeria is collaborating with France to destabilize the Niger Republic through terrorism—a claim vehemently denied by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Thursday.

Naija News reports that Idris’s statement was prompted by accusations, including remarks from political commentator Mahdi Shehu, suggesting plans to establish a French military base in Nigeria’s northeast.

These allegations followed reports of the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, supposedly hosting French troops in the country.

The Nigerian Defense Headquarters, however, dismissed these claims as unfounded.

In response to the minister’s denial, Shehu doubled down, urging the government to come clean.

The video in question depicts Nigerian soldiers unloading supplies, including sacks of rice, from trucks, while French troops were seen offloading equipment from a cargo plane.

A French-flagged bus was later shown transporting personnel. A Nigerian soldier featured in the video mentioned the troops’ training at a peacekeeping center for counterterrorism.

However, a fact-check by TheCable revealed that the video is not recent. The footage dates back to January 2013 and documents a peacekeeping mission by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Mali.

At the time, the Associated Press reported that the troops—comprising 156 Nigerians, 100 Togolese, and 50 Beninese soldiers—arrived at Bamako’s Senou International Airport as part of a regional stabilization effort.

The misleading video has been widely criticized for fueling unnecessary controversy, with officials urging the public to verify claims before sharing unverified content.